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- Title
Dual, Yet Dueling Illnesses.
- Authors
Markle, Gail L.; Attell, Brandon K.; Treiber, Linda A.
- Abstract
The prevalence of multiple chronic illnesses is increasing dramatically, especially among those in middle adulthood, yet much prior research has focused on the experience of multiple morbidity among older adults. We examined the online illness narratives (blogs) of 10 men and women aged 36 to 59 to better understand the experience of living with multiple chronic illnesses at midlife. Multiple morbidity presents distinct challenges to those at midlife: (a) diagnosis and management of multiple illnesses, (b) need for information, (c) identity dilemmas and threats to self-image, and (d) stigma and social rejection. Relinquishing the work identity was especially difficult for participants because it threatened to foreshorten middle adulthood and push them prematurely into late adulthood. Participants used their blogs to revise their identities, alleviate isolation, and inform and guide others.
- Subjects
CHRONIC diseases &; psychology; COMORBIDITY; GROUNDED theory; SOCIAL stigma; BLOGS; NARRATIVES; PATIENTS' attitudes; PSYCHOLOGY
- Publication
Qualitative Health Research, 2015, Vol 25, Issue 9, p1271
- ISSN
1049-7323
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/1049732314559948